Sony SLT
A77
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A900

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Sony SLT-A77 vs Sony SLT-A99

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

79

  
Sony SLT-A77

70

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.74x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
500 ms startup delay
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
 
Runner-up

Sony SLT A77

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT A77

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
12 fps
 

differences

Advantages of the Sony SLT A77
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 60fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Video autofocus Phase detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 12 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The SLT A77's maximum light sensitivity is 3.3 f-stops better
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 12.3 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens availability More lenses available 92 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
 Around 50% more lenses available
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 11 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 124 ms vs 183 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Size Smaller 143x104x81 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The SLT A77's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Weight Lighter 732 g vs 895 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.2" vs 3.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Sony SLT-A77 Learn more about
the Sony SLT A77

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A900
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,431 ISO vs 801 ISO
Help
 The DSLR-A900 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Startup delay Much less startup delay 500 ms vs 3100 ms
Help
 6.2x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 880 shots vs 530 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.72x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 79.0 vs 78.0
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A900
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Sony SLT-A77 Sony SLT A77
70 vs 79
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha DSLR-A900.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
SLT A77:0.72x
DSLR-A900:0.74x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
SLT A77:24 MP
DSLR-A900:24.4 MP
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
SLT A77:92 lenses
DSLR-A900:62 lenses

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
SLT A77:25,600 ISO
DSLR-A900:6,400 ISO
Focus points Few focus points Help
19
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
SLT A77:11
DSLR-A900:1
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
SLT A77:801 ISO
DSLR-A900:1,431 ISO
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
SLT A77:78.0
DSLR-A900:79.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the D7100 vs the SLT A77
Compare the D7100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A900
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
True resolution Takes significantly lower resolution photos
Compare the D7000 vs the SLT A77
Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A900
Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$587 - $698 body only

$798 - $1,005 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weather sealed It's body is not weather sealed
Compare the SLT A65 vs the SLT A77
Compare the SLT A65 vs the Alpha DSLR-A900
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
True resolution Takes significantly lower resolution photos
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS 7D vs the SLT A77
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Alpha DSLR-A900
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
True resolution Takes significantly lower resolution photos
Compare the SLT A57 vs the SLT A77
Compare the SLT A57 vs the Alpha DSLR-A900
Sony SLT-A99

Sony SLT-A99

Pro DSLR

$2,798 body only

$3,196 - $3,198 with 28-75mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the SLT-A99 vs the SLT A77
Compare the SLT-A99 vs the Alpha DSLR-A900
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the SLT A77
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Alpha DSLR-A900

Sony SLT-A77 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony SLT-A77.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Pro DSLR
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Viewfinder coverage Less viewfinder coverage
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A850 vs the Alpha DSLR-A900
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Live view Has live view
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the D700 vs the Alpha DSLR-A900

appearance

Sony SLT-A77 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Sony SLT-A77 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Sony SLT-A77 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

discussion

Showing 1 comments

DanO (2:32 AM, December 17, 2011)
Today is 16 December 2011 and the A77 is nowhere to be found. The few that were sold all have mixed reviews. Even the positive reviews from the Sony website read with negative perspectives. NEX7 is the only Sony camera to be found in very few numbers. The A900 remains as the only good Sony camera that can actually be purchased. As such, it's markedly overpriced for a product that is three years old and out of production!